SEATTLE, Wash. – A tie game into the eighth inning swung the way of host Washington thanks to three late runs as the Cal baseball team dropped a 5-2 decision in the first game of a three-game series at Husky Ballpark.
 
After allowing a home run in the bottom of the first and an unearned run in the third, Cal freshman starter Jared Horn settled into a pitcher's duel with Washington starter Noah Bremer. The freshman from Napa, Calif. was especially tough for the Huskies to deal with in the middle innings, mixing his fastball and a sharp-breaking curve to keep hitters off balance.
 
An RBI single by Cameron Eden gave Cal (19-20, 11-8 Pac-12) its first run in the third inning and Pac-12 home run leader Andrew Vaughn added to his power total in the sixth, belting a 2-2 offering over the right-center field fence for his 12^th round-tripper of the season. Vaughn's blast tied the score at 2 as the teams moved into the late innings.
 
Washington (23-16, 9-7) took the final lead of the game in the eighth inning, scoring on an RBI single by Willie MacIver and a two-run home run by Nick Kahle. Greg Minier entered in the ninth to close out the game for the Huskies and picked up his first save of the season.
 
Horn allowed four earned runs on the evening but pitched into the eighth inning, striking out three while scattering four walks and seven hits. Preston Grand Pre led the Bears offensively with a 3-for-4 game that included a double and a stolen base. Cal out-hit Washington, 10-7.
 
Cal and Washington return to Husky Ballpark on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. for game two of their three-game series. Joey Matulovich and Jordan Jones are the scheduled starters. The series concludes Sunday at 1:05 p.m. with Cal's Matt Ladrech scheduled to oppose Joe DeMers. The Bears return to Evans Diamond on Tuesday for their final mid-week game of the season when San Francisco visits for a 7:05 p.m. contest.